I was afraid of tears. Tears were overwhelming and needed to be fixed.

Tears were a sign of weakness or a lack of faith.

Tears brought shame and condemnation and had to be swiped away quickly and firmly.

Tears were not allowed.

A life without tears is a life without love. Tears invite comfort and allow release. Tears are a gift.

We have a savior who is not far away. He is near, He is present, and He grieves with us today. When Jesus approached Lazarus's tomb, he knew Lazarus would be raised up from the dead. Yet, when he saw the distress and grief of his sisters, he wept. He knew the good ending to the story, and he still wept. We believe there is a good ending to our stories - maybe not here on earth, but in eternity - but there are times when comfort has no place. It is a time to weep. It is a time for the gift of tears.